site.btaTwo Shelters for Victims of Trafficking in Humans to be Extended with Financial Support from Switzerland

Two Shelters for Victims of Trafficking in Humans to be Extended with Financial Support from Switzerland

Sofia, October 5 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister in charge of coordination of the European policies and institutional affairs Meglena Kuneva and Swiss Ambassador to Sofia Denis Knobel Monday signed an agreement on the implementation of a three-year Bulgarian-Swiss project for preventing trafficking in people from Bulgaria and reintegration of victims of the practice.

The 1.5 million leva project envisages the extension of two shelters for victims of trafficking in humans and the provision of medical, psychological and legal services. The project is part of a joint programme worth 2.239 million Swiss francs whose outcomes include improvement of the work for identification and reintegration of victims of human trafficking, and prevention against their re-joining the trafficking. The two shelters - one for children and one for adults, are in Sofia.

"We implement an important policy because Bulgaria is a source country for victims of trafficking, and because we have vulnerable aspects," Kuneva said.

Ambassador Knobel noted the importance of the cooperation with NGOs such as the Animus Foundation and with the International Migration Organizations because both will implement elements of the project. Cooperation has already been established with the Prosecuting Magistracy, and the ministries of justice and of the interior. The diplomat said he was certain of the mutual benefit of the projects because Bulgaria is the third country as a source of victims of trafficking in humans in Switzerland and second in the EU. The projects show that the sides are strongly committed to strengthening the cooperation in counteracting trafficking in people, he said.

Commenting the crisis in Syria, Kuneva said that "Bulgaria speaks through a bigger power such as the EU". "For Bulgaria it is important there to be an international coalition with the participation of the EU, respect of human rights, while the status of the Syrian President because of whom part of the Syrians are refugees is part of solving the problem," Kuneva said.